Hosts New Zealand could not have asked for a better start than this after they bundled out South Africa for just 95 runs in the first innings of the first Test, played at Christchurch. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry made a memorable comeback to Test cricket after playing his last Test match back in June 2021. The hosts later, ended the first day's play at 116/3 and with a lead of 21 runs.
Henry on fire
Henry seemed to be in a destructive mood as he scalped seven wickets to dismantle the opposition batting unit. The Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner picked up one wicket each to take full control of the game.
Only four South Africa batsmen- Sarel Erwee (10 runs off 30 balls), Aiden Markram (15 runs off 43 balls), Zubayr Hamza (25 runs off 74 balls) and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne (18 runs off 52 balls), could manage to reach the double-digit mark.
New Zealand skipper Tom Latham had earlier won the toss and elected to bowl first and the decision seemed to totally pay off as the visitors seemed simply clueless while facing the Kiwi bowlers.
First blow
It just took 10 deliveries for the Kiwi bowlers to claim the first wicket of the match, after South Africa skipper Dean Elgar (1 run off 9 balls) was sent back to the dressing room. A fuller delivery bowled by Henry, forced Elgar to play a drive shot but a mistimed shot was eventually caught by Southee at third slip.
Erwee and Markarm tried their best to avert the early danger as they registered a partnership of 19 runs off 47 balls but Jamieson provided a crucial breakthrough as he dismissed Erwee in the 10th over of the innings.
Later, Hamza and Verreynne notched another significant partnership of 33 runs off 83 balls but it did not mean much eventually as in the 43rd over of the innings, Henry dismissed Hamza to claim another crucial breakthrough. A rising ball was needlessly poked by Hamza which resulted in a catch taken by New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell over his right shoulder.
The 30-year-old, Kiwi pacer picked up his fifth wicket of the first innings after dismissing wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne in the 47th over of the first innings.
New Zealand batting
New Zealand had lost their two early wickets after skipper Tom Latham (16 runs off 61 balls) and Will Young (8 runs off 32 balls) departed early.
Later, Devon Conway departed after scoring 36 runs off 76 balls. Henry Nicholls (37 off 54 balls) and Neil Wagner (2 off 12 deliveries) remained not out at the end of first day's play.
